An educationist, Samuel Ziggah, has asked the government for better conditions of service so they will be encouraged to give their all while teaching.
The lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, says the current working conditions of teachers are not the best, making it easier for them to abandon Ghana and travel abroad for better pastures.
He stated that the policy by the government to allow only degree holders to teach in our basic schools was a joke if the main issue facing teachers had not been addressed.
Speaking on Rainbow Radio 87.5 FM’s Frontline, he stated that Ghanaian teachers work in deplorable conditions and that if precautions are not taken, more than 10,000 of them may leave Ghana, based on recent revelations.
He stated that at the basic level, there are teachers with Master’s degrees who are teaching, so it does not necessarily matter, but the most important issue at hand is for the government to address the poor working conditions of the teachers.
”It is not about the certificate, but about determining whether or not the person is qualified to teach. That should be our primary focus. It should be about the skills rather than the certificate. The certificate is important, but the teacher must also demonstrate teaching skills.”
”Our working conditions are appalling. That is why we are facing these difficulties. A teacher will work for 40 years and receive GHC 35,000 as a pension. That is not at all encouraging our teachers to do their best. So, whether a diploma, a degree, or a certificate, if the teacher is not motivated, you can build classrooms with air conditioning and whatever else you want, but it will all be for naught if the teacher is not motivated.”
By: Rashid Obodai Provencal/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
